Eighth Mobile Network Launched in Cambodia

Published on: 16th Mar 2009

Note -- this news article is more than a year old.

Cambodia has gained an eighth mobile network after Latelz launched commercial services last Friday under the Smart Mobile brand. The company is owned by Cyprus based Timeturns Holdings, which is controlled by unknown Russian backers.

Thomas Hundt, chief executive officer of Latelz, said that even with so many
players in the market, Cambodia's mobile sector has room to grow.

"Despite the financial crisis, mobile phone service is a basic need for
people, especially in developing countries," said Hundt. "Only around
24 percent of the Cambodian population has access to mobile phones."

"We cannot reveal the size of the investment, but to start a mobile
phone network, it costs millions of dollars," said Hundt, who added that
the company's coverage includes Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

According to data from the Mobile
World analysts, the country ended last September with an estimated 3.5
million mobile phone users - representing a population penetration level of just
24%.